Can Furnaces Catch Fire?
The return of cold temperatures raises your reliance on home heating equipment each fall. If your furnace isn’t functioning correctly, it could grow to be a fire hazard and endanger your family’s safety.
As provinced by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), heating systems are a top factor of home fires, causing approximately 50,000 blazes, 500 civilian deaths and more than $1 billion in significant property damage every year. Space heaters and fireplaces cause most of the fires involving heating equipment, but central heaters, including furnaces, are responsible for just about 12% of these blazes. Learn the leading causes of furnace fires and how to prevent them.
Causes of Furnace Fires
Aging furnaces are more exposed to safety concerns as they may be manufactured differently and slide into disrepair over the years. Still, whether your furnace is more than a decade old or brand new, you should be aware of these causes of furnace fires.Overheated Motor
A furnace motor can overheat in different ways. Here are the main risks:-
- A clogged filter can restrict airflow and cause the motor to work more. Eventually, the motor can overheat, raising the risk of fire.
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- Dirt can gather around and cover up the motor, forcing it to absorb heat, which can trigger a fire.
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- Exposed or corroded wiring can cause the voltage to get too high, increasing the chances of an electrical fire.
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- Exceedingly tight or damaged motor bearings can heat up whenever the furnace is on. Without adequate lubrication, the bearings could eventually catch fire.
Blocked Furnace Flue
Yard debris, animal nests and other obstructions can block the furnace flue, reducing oxygen. This causes soot buildup and bad ventilation, lowering efficiency and raising the risk of flame rollout. Flame rollout is when fire gets out of the heat exchanger and burns the parts in your furnace. If this problem continues, your heating equipment can be seriously damaged, and the fire may even spread to areas outside the furnace.Obstructed Heat Exchanger
The heat exchanger is a closed combustion chamber where the heat produced by your furnace is exchanged to the air circulating within your home. A heat exchanger clogged up with soot or corrosion has the same result as a blocked furnace flue—reduced performance and a bigger risk of flame rollout.Cracked Heat Exchanger
Several problems occur if corrosion damages the heat exchanger. First, it affects suction within this chamber, resulting in less airflow and increased flame rollout. Second, it releases fumes, including carbon monoxide, into your home. Breathing in CO gas can be deadly, so never dismiss your carbon monoxide alarms. CO gas can also return to the source of the leak and ignite if a flame is lit.Improper Gas Pressure
Furnaces need a precise mixture of natural gas and air to create safe and efficient combustion. Too little pressure is often the result of clogged burner orifices. This problem makes the burner flames more likely to roll out. It also leads to unwanted condensation within the heat exchanger, increasing the rate of corrosion. Conversely, high gas pressure can create excessive heat inside the furnace, which can cause the soot inside the heat exchanger to combust. Such fires can easily spread to other areas.How to Prevent Furnace Fires
Based on the different ways a furnace can light on fire, here are the steps you can take to avoid furnace fires:-
- Change the air filter on a regular basis: Check the filter monthly and change it when it looks dirty or every three months, whichever comes first.
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- Keep an eye on the furnace flue: Inspect the exterior vent for obstructions and clear out any you find.
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- Don’t store combustible items close to the furnace: Things like cardboard boxes, paper, clothing and other combustibles should be kept at a minimum 3 feet away from the furnace and any other heating equipment.
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- Install a flame rollout switch: This safety device detects if a fire or hot exhaust gases are inside your furnace’s burner compartment. If the rollout switch triggers, have your furnace inspected as soon as possible to diagnose and repair the problem before it causes a furnace fire.
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- Schedule annual furnace maintenance: It isn’t always easy to notice if your furnace is working unsafely. Whether you notice warning signs or not, prioritize furnace maintenance every fall.
